The Greatest Athlete To Wear #32 is Jim Brown.

#32 is one of the most famous numbers in sports and when I first began this series back in January one of my first thoughts was -who will I select as the greatest #32 Jim Brown or Sandy Koufax?

Notable #32’s-the best left handed pitcher I’ve ever seen was Steve Carlton. In football- OJ Simpson we tend to forget was a fantastic running back, one of the greatest of all time. He’d be on my Mt. Rushmore of running back’s I’ve seen play. Marcus Allen is a Hall of Famer who will be remembered most for his time with the Raiders. Franco Harris was my favourite player when I was growing up. The greatest play in NFL history-his “Immaculate Reception.” In basketball Magic Johnson [who a lot of people would put at #1} was one of the all time greats for the Lakers. I hated the Lakers but I loved to watch Magic play. He loved to play. How could you not like him? Karl Malone delivered the mail for many seasons for the Jazz. One of the greatest team athletes never to win a title. Bill Walton was the best player I’ve ever seen for a year and a half with the Portland Trailblazers. A great college player and a great pro in the brief time he was able to play. That Trailblazer championship team was a joy to watch. Kevin McHale helped form the greatest frontline in NBA history with The Chief Robert Parrish and The Hick From French Lick- Larry Bird.

It says something about a number when Magic Johnson-one of the 5ive greatest NBA players ever- is #3 at #32. It comes down to Jim Brown and Sandy Koufax. I became a sports fan at the age of 6 in 1967. I missed seeing Jim Brown play by two seasons and Sandy Koufax by one. I wish I were a few years older so I could have seen those two. I want to pick Sandy Koufax at #32. He is my all-time favourite pitcher and one of my all-time favourite players. He was admirable as a player and as a man. He had 5ive years from 1962-66 that were unreal. I don’t know if any pitcher has had 5 years in a row like Koufax did. He had to retire at the age of 30. He went out on top, the best pitcher in the game. When I ask older fans I have known over the years questions like -Who is the best player you’ve ever seen? I have gotten many responses and usually its a long discussion where before they decide or they say one guy say and then talk about well…this guy and that guy were also great. When I ask the question-who is the greatest pitcher you’ve ever seen? The words do not get out of my mouth and 90% of the time -at the least- the answer was Sandy Koufax…and then they would go on and on about the great Koufax. I’d love to pick Sandy as the greatest #32 but..

The Greatest Athlete To Wear #32 is Jim Brown. Jim Brown was the greatest running back in NFL history. No one is close. He wasn’t only the greatest running back he is the greatest player who has ever played football. He was also a great athlete. I have heard it said many times that football wasn’t even Jim Brown’s best sport-that lacross was. That Jim Brown may have been the greatest player at two different sports. He was great at every sport he tried. A natural athlete. As a running back even Barry Sanders father[ Barry would be the greatest running back I’ve seen in my lifetime} has said over and over that the greatest running back ever wasn’t his son but Jim Brown. Watching the old footage of Jim Brown, he looks like a man playing with boys. How about the run on running backs the University of Syracuse had- Jim Brown, Ernie Davis, Floyd Little and Larry Csonka?  Jim Brown- without doubt the greatest athlete to wear #32.